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Broadcaster's Guide to the Enforcement Bureau

Resolve complaints, investigate and take or recommend enforcement action
for violations of the Communications Act and/or Commission rules resulting
in radio frequency interference.

Resolve complaints, investigate and take or recommend enforcement action
for violations of the Emergency Alert System ("EAS") Rules.

Resolve complaints, investigate and take or recommend enforcement
action for violations of the antenna structure registration, lighting and
marking rules, including AM tower fencing.

Resolve complaints, investigate and take or recommend enforcement action
for broadcast of indecent material.

Investigate and take enforcement action in cases of possible
unauthorized license assignment and/or transfer of control.

Investigate and take enforcement action in cases of possible
unauthorized construction and operation of broadcast facilities.

Conduct on-site inspections of broadcast facilities, the focus of which
include compliance with the EAS requirements, antenna structure rules, AM
fencing requirements, public inspection file and main studio rules,
operating power requirements and rules regarding location of transmitting
facilities.

Serve as trial staff in formal hearings before an administrative
law judge.

What We Do Not Do:

Enforce the Commission's rules in the context of renewal or other
applications (involving the allocation of broadcast spectrum), or enforce the
Commission's political programming, equal employment opportunity or
cable/broadcast must-carry rules. The Media Bureau handles these issues.

Serves as trial staff in formal hearings before an administrative
law judge.

Spectrum Enforcement Division

Investigates and takes or recommends enforcement action, where
appropriate, against broadcast licensees in cases involving violations
of technical rules such as unauthorized construction and operation,
EAS, tower lighting and marking, radio frequency interference, and
excessive power.

25 Field Offices

Conduct inspections and investigations of broadcast facilities.

Conduct or assist with FCC-initiated investigations of compliance
with broadcast rules.

Take or recommend enforcement action, where appropriate.

Resolve, or assist with the resolution of interference complaints.

How Do I File A Complaint About:

Broadcast Interference

Broadcast stations that believe that they are experiencing
interference from other stations and that such interference is the
result of violations of a Commission rule, order or terms of a station
authorization, may submit their complaints to: Federal Communications
Commission, Enforcement Bureau, Spectrum Enforcement Division, 445
12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

Complaints should be in writing and should include as much of the
following information as possible:

the call sign and address of the station experiencing the
interference;

the telephone number of a contact person for the station;

the frequency on which the complaining station operates;

a detailed description of the nature of the interference,
including the duration and frequency of the occurrence of interference;

the call sign and address of the station believed to be the source
of the interference;

the frequency on which the alleged interfering station operates;

the provision of the Communications Act, Commission rule, order or
station authorization believed to have been violated by the alleged
source of the interference, and

any documentation supporting the alleged existence and cause of
the interference.

Pirate Broadcasting

Information about or complaints about operation of
unlicensed broadcast stations should be in writing. They may be sent to
the Federal Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau,
Spectrum Enforcement Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

Complaints should include the name of the operator, if known, how
the station identifies itself, station contact information (e.g., address,
phone number) if available, time of operation, the location of the
station, the operating frequency, and whether the station's operation
is causing interference.
Once an investigation starts we do not discuss the status of the enforcement
action. The range of possible enforcement actions include monetary
forfeiture, seizure of equipment, injunctive relief, and criminal arrest
and/or fine. Some of these enforcement actions (e.g., seizure of
equipment, injunctive relief and criminal prosecution) require coordination
with the Department of Justice. Accordingly, the timing of these
enforcement actions is not always within the FCC's control.

Complaints should include the name of the call sign and address of
the station allegedly in violation, detailed facts regarding the nature
of the violation, supporting documentation, and the name and address
of the complainant.